The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-08-27

pital Of Vienna, poor and alone
died the only son of a man who Il
few decades back was called the
petroleum king" in his Galician
home and was the founder of one
of the most colossal industries in
modern times-the refining of Oil.
This man-his name was Adolph
Schreiner-shared the lot of the
majority of inventors and bencfac-
tors of mankind He increased the
worlds wealth by millions, enriched
thousands, laid the foundation for
immense fortunes, but remained
poverty-strieken man. The petro-
leum in the United States dates
from the 'fitties," the first sales of
American oil taking place in 1854,
but Abraham Sehreiner, by docu-
ments in the archives of Vienna,
produced Illuminating oil as early
as 1858. He owned a piece of land
in Boryslaw, where, in an opening
in the earth, he found black, tar
like substance which the peasants
had used from time immemorial to
heal wounds and grease their wagon
wheels. Schreiner got the idea that
the fluid in the clay might be EN-
ployed in other ways. lie kneaded
ball from the slime, stuck wick
into it, and it burned brightly with
a red flame until the substance ex-
hausted. This was the first petro-
leum lamp. Later, Schreiner heard
something of distillation and deter
mined to try Il few experiments. He
purchased huge kettle and trans
formed it into Il distilling appara-
tus as well as possible, filled it with
the black earth and placed it upon
the fire to accomplish the distilla-
ton. But that happened more rap
idly than he wished. The petroleum
exploded, the kettle was broken in
to thousand pieces and Schrein
er's body was covered with scars.
Hardly recovered from his wounds,
he began his experiments again with
a proper apparatus, into the secrets
of which an apothecary had intro
duced him. Here he was crowned
with better success. He gained \
Il product which resemble II
strongly smelling oil, and petroleum
was found. He filed a bottle and
sold it to druggist in Dropobyez.
That was the year 1858. Schreiner
was therefore, not only the discov-
erer of petroleum, but the first who
introduced it into commerce. The
first purchaser of the new fluid in
quantities was the apothecary Mi
kolasch in Lemberg. The later,
who acquired the first 100 pounds
for fifteens horins, refined the oil
until he succeeded in making it
comparatively clear and colorless.
He was accordingly the prime oil
reiiner. In the same year the Kaiser
Ferdinand Railway Company pur-
chased 5000 pounds at 100 guidens
per 100, to use in lighting their sig
nal lamps. Encouraged, Schreiner
enlarged his factory and began the
production of oil in great quantities.
In 1856 he bored the first oil we'll
in Galicia. He then erected his re-
finery and distillery. In 1865 the
entire works were burned to the
ground. But he completed them
anew, for better luck. He had
hardly started his motor when the
flames again robbed him of his
treasure, and this time beyond res
toration. His youthful energy had
deserted him now that gray hairs,
feeble health and age had come.
He tried to down his misery in
drink and died in great poverty,
leaving his son nothing save doc
ument which stated that Abraham
Schreiner was the first man to dis
cover petroleum for illuminating
purposes and introduce it into trade.
Adolph Schreiner, the son of the
former petroleum king, from whom
the world hoped great things, went
to ruin as small merchant in Lem
berg, proceeded to Vienna, where
he travelled from house to house
selling matches. At last he died as
already stated, in public institu-
ton. mourned by nobody and fol-
lowed to the grave by none of his
kin or name.